'Prototype' falls short of standards

The graphics and plot are poorly done in this next generation game.

By Chris Stachiw

Published July 8, 2009

"Prototype" is the newest free-roaming sandbox game for PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360. While delivering on its promise of exciting, open-ended game play, it fails to keep up with the graphical prowess of almost all other games for either next generation system.

The violent, gory game play puts players in the shoes of Alex Mercer, a super human suffering amnesia trying to figure out his past, while taking revenge on the people responsible for his mutations. These mutations are the highlight of the game and keep you coming back for more even though the missions don't vary much.

The game play is the star here, and it shines as a satisfyingly visceral addition to any action fan's library. Mercer starts out with pretty basic attacks, but as the game progresses he begins to gain more mutant powers, such as arms that turn into giant blades or whips. These powers keep the game fresh.

"Prototype" tends to be stagnant in certain areas, especially when you have to slog through droves of similar-looking enemies. This stall creates some of the worst moments in the game, turning killing enemies -- normally the fun part of a game -- into a chore just to attain new powers. These powers are worth it though, eventually allowing Mercer to easily destroy whole city blocks. Mercer's many powers are the true highlight of the game, giving the player nearly limitless power.

The powers are the only thing "Prototype" has going for it because the story and graphics are laughably bad. As with many action games, the story and dialogue are poor, focusing on game play and not the story. The plot is pretty generic: Guy wakes up, doesn't know where he is and seeks to avenge wrongdoing. It's similar to "The Bourne Identity," except it has a twist: A virus has infected New York, and it's up to Mercer to stop it.

The unimaginative plot is further accentuated by some of the worst voice acting and dialogue in recent video game history. Actors seem like they are reading directly from a script in a robotic tone, which takes you completely out of the game and further perpetuates the action game stereotype. Without strong dialogue or story, the game flounders and will have players pounding the start button to skip the horrendous cut scenes.

Although amazing graphics are a given for next generation systems, "Prototype" breaks the mold -- in a bad way -- and features some very disappointing visuals. The level design of New York is terrible, with unnaturally blocky buildings. An awful draw distance that would make any gamer cringe doesn't do any favors for subpar setting.

The character models are atrocious, with little to no detail on the characters' bodies or faces. It's perplexing to fathom how the game's developer could have released this with such horrendous graphics, expecting it do well in a market filled with games, such as "Gears of War 2" and "Grand Theft Auto 4." These graphics are equivalent to something on the original Xbox and are so disappointing that they detract even more from the appeal of the game.

A note must be made that the PS3 version of the game does not work on a handful of owner's systems, and instead of an install screen, there's a screen displaying there isn't enough space to install the game. This can be easily fixed by changing the room on the hard drive by 700 MB. This change tricks the game into installing on the system, allowing the game to be played.

"Prototype" is a letdown, with the only thing in its favor being the game play. Without that saving grace, the game would be unplayable and no fun at all. Unfortunately, this prototype needed to go back to the drawing board.